programmed decision
a simple, routine matter for which a manager has an established decision rule
nonprogrammed decision
a new, complex decision that requires a creative solution
effective decision
a timely decision that meets a desired objective and is acceptable to those individuals affected by it
rationality
a logical, step-by-step approach to decision making, with a thorough analysis of alternatives and their consequences
bounded rationality
a theory that suggests that there are limits to how rational a decision maker can actually be
satisfice
to select the first alternative that is "good enough", because the costs in time and effort are too great to optimize
heuristics
shortcuts in decision making that save mental activity
escalation of commitment
the tendency to continue to support a failing course of action
cognitive style
an individual's preference for gathering information and evaluating alternatives
risk aversion
the tendency to choose options that entail fewer risks and less uncertainty
intuition
a fast, positive force in decision making that is utilized at a level below consciousness and involves learned patterns of information
creativity
a process influenced by individual and organizational factors that results in the production of novel and useful ideas, products, or both
synergy
a positive force that occurs in groups when group members stimulate new solutions to problems through the process of mutual influence and encouragement within the group
social decision schemes
simple rules used to determine final group decisions
groupthink
a deterioration of mental efficiency, reality testing, and moral judgement resulting from pressures within the group
group polarization
the tendency for group discussion to produce shifts toward more extreme attitudes among members
brainstorming
a technique for generating as many ideas as possible on a given subject, while suspending evaluation until all the ideas have been suggested
nominal group technique (NGT)
a structured approach to group decision making that focuses on generating alternatives and choosing one
devil's advocacy
a technique for preventing groupthink in which a group or individual is given the role of critic during the decision making
dialectical inquiry
a debate between two opposing sets of recommendations
quality circle
a small group of employees who work volentarily on company time typically one hour per week to adress work-related problems duch as quality control, cost reduction, production planning and techniques and even product design
quality team
a team that is part of an organization's structure and is empowered to act on its decisions regarding product and service quality
participative decision making
decision making in which individuals who are affected by decisions influence the making of those decisions